Dr. John Kalns and colleagues (Hyperion Biotechnology, Inc., San Antonio, TX) developed an in vitro method that showed promise in predicting the immunostimulatory properties of different aloe vera gel preparations.*

Ambrotose® Product Studies

Human Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Trials

In a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of 73 healthy middle-aged adults, Dr. Talitha Best and colleagues from the University of South Australia and Swinburne University of Technology showed that, shortly after taking a single 4-gram serving of classic Ambrotose® complex powder, subjects experienced significantly improved memory and performed significantly better on demanding cognitive tasks. The product had no effect on blood glucose levels.*

Drs. Atiya N. Stancil and Leslie H. Hicks, both of Howard University in Washington, D.C., published this randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study investigating the impact of Ambrotose® complex on the brain function of 62 healthy young adults. The study showed that a single, one-tablespoon serving of Ambrotose complex significantly improved visual discrimination and working memory.

Drs. Chenghua Wang and R.T. Pivik (University of Arkansas, Little Rock, ARK) showed, in a study of 20 healthy adults, that a one tablespoon serving of Ambrotose® complex powder had a positive effect on brain waves associated with information processing.*

Human Open-Label Trials

In an open-label human dosing study, Dr. Azita Alavi, a Research Fellow at the Sir Joseph Hotung Centre for Musculoskeletal Disorders, Division of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, St. George’s University of London, U.K. and colleagues showed that intake of Advanced Ambrotose® powder resulted in a significant shift towards increased sialylation in the N-glycosylation profile of the serum of healthy adults. To the authors’ knowledge, this is the first study which has shown that dietary changes can affect serum glycosylation profiles. Co–authors include St. George’s University researchers Professor John Axford, Dr. Edward Tarelli and Dr. Owen Fraser, and Professor Martin Bland, Department of Health Sciences, University of York, UK.

Pre-Clinical Studies

Scientists at ProDigest in collaboration with the Laboratory of Microbial Ecology and Technology (LabMET) at Ghent University, in Belgium conducted this study, the first to apply 16sRNA genes-based pyrosequencing in a Simulator of the Human Intestinal Microbial Ecosystem (SHIME) study. The pyrosequencing technique allowed the scientists to explore more deeply and confirm findings from a previous Ghent University study which showed that Advanced Ambrotose powder exhibited prebiotic effects along the entire colon.

Marzorati M, Maignien L, Verhelst A et al. (2013) Barcoded pyrosequencing analysis of the microbial community in a simulator of the human gastrointestinal tract showed a colon region-specific microbiota modulation for two plant-derived polysaccharide blends. Antonie Van Leeuwenhoek. 103(2):409-20.Read publication. Note: This article can also be accessed from PubMed.

Mannatech sponsored this research, conducted by outside experts, which showed that intake of Advanced Ambrotose® powder had positive effects in the brain on the expression of genes associated with the regulation of learning, memory and mood (1)*. These preliminary findings are compatible with multiple controlled human clinical studies which indicate that intake of Ambrotose products provides significant cognitive benefits to healthy adults.*

Drs. Massimo Marzorati and Sam Possemiers (University of Ghent and ProDigest, Ghent, Belgium) and their colleagues employed state‐of‐the‐art human gastrointestinal tract simulations and microbiological analyses to show that Ambrotose® complex and Advanced Ambrotose® powder exerted positive prebiotic effects.* Both products exhibited good selective fermentability throughout the entire colon and positive and selective bifidogenic effects. They also demonstrated the possibility of enhancing species belonging to Bacteroidetes, a phylum recently associated with body weight management.*

Dr. John Kalns and colleagues (Hyperion Biotechnology, Inc., San Antonio, TX) conducted an in vitro study demonstrating that human fecal bacteria can partially break down Advanced Ambrotose® powder and two of its constituents (aloe vera gel polysaccharides and arabinogalactan). Bacteria identified that could best compete for these polysaccharides were Enterococcus species (a species that is a popular probiotic in some countries).

Sinnott RA, Kalns JE, Boyd S et al. (2007) Human colonic bacteria can utilize the large polysaccharides of aloe vera gel and arabinogalactan polysaccharides as their only carbon source. Presented at the 107th American Society for Microbiology Meeting, Toronto, Canada. May 21-25.

Human Open-Label Trials

In a five-week combined Phase 1 and 2 open label, forced titration dose response study of 21 healthy adults, physicians and scientists from Australia and New Zealand showed that four capsules/day of the Ambrotose AO® dietary supplement appear to be safe and raised serum oxygen radical absorption capacity (ORAC) by 36.6%.*

Multiple Product Studies

Human Open-Label Trial

In a six-month, open-label human studyof 15 retired football players, intake of Mannatech products resulted in statistically significant improvements in numerous self-reported measures of physical and mental health, quality of life, memory, and elbow and knee pain reduction. Study participants took Mannatech’s Ambrotose® complex powder, Omega–3 with Vitamin D3 capsules, Ambrotose AO® capsules, PhytoMatrix® caplets and PLUS™ caplets. All of these products are gluten-free. Authors include Mannatech scientists Drs. Robert A. Sinnott and Rolando L. Maddela, Dr. Sejong Bae of the University of North Texas Health Science Center and Dr. Talitha Best of the University of South Australia, Adelaide.

Sinnott RA, Maddela RL, Bae S, Best T. (2013) The effect of dietary supplements on the quality of life of retired professional football players. Global J Health Sci 2(5):13-26.Read publication. Note: This article can also be accessed from PubMed.

Sinnott RA, Maddela RL, Bae S, Best T. (2012) Dietary supplementation and the quality of life of retired football players. Poster presentation at the International Society of Sports Nutrition’s 9th Annual Conference, Clearwater Beach, Florida, June 22-23. Read publication

Human Randomized, Double-Blind, Parallel Arm Study

Drs. Joy Frestedt and John Zenk (Minnesota Applied Research Center, Edina, MN), Michael Kuskowski (Geriatric Research Education and Clinical Center, Minneapolis, MN), and Loren Ward and Eric Bastian (Glanbia Research and Development Center, Twin Falls, ID) conducted this 12-week study on healthy subjects on a diet that reduced caloric intake by 500 calories/day. They showed that subjects who consumed a flavored and sweetened drink mix that contained the same peptide blend in OsoLean® powder lost significantly more body fat and lost less lean muscle mass when compared with those consuming an isocaloric beverage.*